Re: EB Preview :: Lusotannan
Well, there you have it. Historians/archeologists have discovered a long while ago that the fact that most records are Roman/Hellenic tend to not tell the whole story and/or tell the whole truth. Reporting/registering events in ancient times had a high degree of political agenda in it - which is to say, in many ways, bias. Remember the phrase "The adopted morality is the winner's morality."Originally Posted by soibean
In regard to specifics, the Celtic road system was in widespread use. It might have been based upon earlier work by prior local inhabitants in many cases. Remains of it have been found in far places as Ireland, Belgium and western France. It consisted of wide (up to 4m) and thick (up to 30cm) plates of weather resistant wood over a foundation of compacted earth and stone, IIRC. It was clearly used by horse pulled cars.
Celtic civilizational advancements can be seen in other places that correspond better to the Roman/Hellenic-centric way of thinking about "civilized" achievements. Places like the vast city/fortress (oppida) of Bibracte or Gergovia. In many of these towns and urban centers real industrial and trade emplacements flourished and were part of a vast network of productive industry that served the needs of all of Gaul and beyond. Rich jewlery, raw metals, weapons, armours, etc...
But imports were just as important as exports. Some very expensive imports were also made. I saw one that was an enormous amphora-shaped container of wine made entirelly in bronze and richly adorned that was specifically ordered to an italian artisan for a high nobility Celtic woman - probably someone very important in Gallic society. It was 1,70m tall and about 1 meter wide!!
But part of this widespread trade can be seen in a funny example:
Do you know what nation was the main foreign importer of wine from Italy during the time period of EB until GJ Caeser's conquest of Gaul?
No? Well, Gaul was.
Do you know the reason the Romans had to keep increasing their wine production to new levels?
No? Well, once again Gaul was. They really liked wine and the italic peninsula was, has is today, a great producer of wine.
And do you know why the Romans wanted to sell to the "barbarians" and why later Caeser exploited a civil war to conquer Gaul?
No? Well, paraphrasing Terry Jones, because the Gauls were "loaded" with gold.
Yes, part of the widespread industry I've talked about consisted on the exploration of over 100 mines of several metals, with many of those being mines of gold.
Well, not really since the Tartesanian kingdom is older than the Carthaginian establishments in the peninsula and they ocuppy slightly different regions. In fact, it is the rise of carthaginian power and its influence on trade, as well as its establishment of alliances in the peninsula that really hurts the rule and influence of this kingdom among it's neighbours. It's decay starts preciselly because of Carthage's presence. Before, they were the big boss in the area, but after that the shift of power moves to the cartaghinian controled areas.
If you can read more here:
Tartessos
If you can read spanish (castillian) you can find more info here (if you can't just check some of the pictures):
LA ESPAÑA PROTOHISTÓRICA
TARTESSOS: SUS FUENTES
TARTESSOS
El enigma histórico de Tartessos, la mítica ciudad-imperio de la Edad Antigua.
TARTESSOS
Tartessos
Indeed it is.
As you can see from what I mentioned above, in regard to tranportation, trade and industry I think we can say the Celts were fairly advanced and surprisingly "civilized" for us Roman-Hellenic cultural heirs.
As for Iberians, no traces of an advanced transportation system were found but their art and metal industry was very advanced. They traded a lot but it was probably more limited in terms of sheer volume due to the aparent lack of a large scale transport system.
What can we say of the Celts and Iberians in regard to the other civilizational terms you mentioned above?
The Celtic educational system was advanced but very different from the Roman/Hellenic one. They relied on oral tradition because they despised the written word - they thought it was as an impedement to a good developement of the tought process and the accumulation of memories. Although for trade and storage records they also wrote. They rellied in the druidic system that was linked to their religion and beliefs. The druidic system was extremelly demanding and therefore only exceptional individuals would became druids. And they took 15 years to achieve this status. The druids usually specialized in certain specific areas of knowledge. Some were the historians of the tribe, others were politicians, others philosophers and wisemen, etc... But the knowledge was not exactly restricted and people in several positions were always advised by these wise men.
IIRC, in Iberia it was different from tribe to tribe but rellied also in wisemen like the celtic druids, although knowledge was not specifically linked to a religious organization and their role, in comparation to druids, was different. They were specialized and there was not a unique central pool of knowledge. Populations were also very supersticious and all of this knowledge/religious habits/education varied quite a bit from north to south.
In regard to equality among citizens what can we say about them? Apart from the Etruscans the Italian populations did not respect women like the Celts. In Rome and Hellas they were deemed inferior. In Celtic and Iberian society they were respected. In both societies, although it is more apparent among the Celts, a women could achieve a very high position of status provided she was inteligent, brave and gathered popular consensus. Even in regard to the political arena. What does this say of the "barbaric" Celts and Iberians?
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Sorry to disapoint you, but the Galaecians of this time difered quite a bit from the Lusitani. They were far more influenced by Celtic culture and had a somewhat different look. You will be able to see this when we insert the Galaecian units that are planned.
But am I seeing things or is that Iovamann dude armed with fire-hardened wooden spears or something ? Kinda Stone Age, isn't that ? 
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